Amarillo gaming establishment robbed at gunpoint

An Amarillo gaming establishment was robbed at gunpoint early Friday morning.

Sweepstakes, at 3504 S.E. 11th Ave., had at least nine customers in the building around 12:15 a.m. when a man came through the front door carrying a large gun, Amarillo police said.

The gun was the size of a small rifle or shotgun, but the exact model was not known, said Amarillo police Sgt. Brent Barbee.

The gunman, whose identity is not known, went up to the counter of the business and demanded money from the clerk at the register.

No one was hurt during the robbery, police said.

The clerk gave him the money and he then left on foot, the release said. A vehicle was not seen.

The gunman was described as a Hispanic male about 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. He is believed to be in his early 20s and was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a University of Texas emblem on the front and a ball cap, police said.

This is the second time this year that Sweepstakes has been robbed at gunpoint, Barbee said.

Around 11:30 p.m. May 16, a man with a handgun robbed the establishment. No one was injured, and police still don't have a suspect in that case, Barbee said.

Police are asking anyone with information on either crime to call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400.